Agronomy Library > Application/Timing

Fall Stubble Patterns Often Show Planting Problems
Author: Murray Green, Agricultural Engineer
Date Created: August 28, 2006
Last Reviewed: February 21, 2007
If snow hasn’t already filled up your stubble, take some time to walk a few fields and observe the remaining stubble. It is a good time to do some field scouting as there is not the same pressure for time as between planting and spraying. Maybe take a few minutes as you do your soil testing. When you look at emerging spring crops, you see what you might get, whereas the fall stubble shows you what you actually got as far as plant populations and distribution are concerned.  What to look for:  • Gaps in the seed row  • Differences between adjacent seed rows  • The number of stems and tillers from individual cereal plants  • The spacing of canola plants and the effect the next plant had on the diameter of the stem. (yield and lodging are related to this) Try to relate this back to the seed rate • If there are areas of thin plant populations, was there a difference in weed populations?  • Overlaps and wide spacing (gaps) between seed rows. This will indicate how effective you are in gauging your field pattern. (separation from the previous pass) • Observe if a situation (concern) is isolated or frequent across the field (s). • A second look at the residue remaining may give you an idea as to what you are up against next spring at planting time • Finally, decide if this is something that needs to be fixed for next year..